Sometimes musicians reach for inspiration from their bookshelves. Here are 20 bands named after classic literature.

Mobile phones that die while shooting a video. Cars that roast on the inside. A thermometer needle that

Before you hit the highway, be sure to stock up on these van life essentials that’ll make your next adventure even more enjoyable.

Jane Birkin, style mogul and the namesake behind the most expensive bag in the world, has died at age 76. On Sunday 16 July, the British-born actress and singer was found deceased inside her Paris apartment, with French President Emmanuel Macron confirming her death in a tweet, in which he described her “a French icon”. The icon became the muse for Hermès’ archetypal accessory and defined the classic Parisian-chic look in the 70s. Since Birkin’s unlikely 1981 run-in with the brand’s former chairman and head designer, she’s held the highest of honours in luxury fashion. The chance encounter happened when Birkin found herself on the same Air France flight as Hermès executive Jean-Louis Dumas when a bag that was holding her belongings broke and she angrily blamed Hermès for not making a big enough bag to fit her stuff. She complained out loud, unaware that the brand’s artistic director was sitting directly next to her. Not long after, the French fashion house debuted the “Birkin bag,” only offered in a large size to satisfy her wishes. Birkin recalled the consequential interaction in a 2020 interview with Christiane Amanpour from CNN, where she remembered: “I said: ‘Why don’t you make a bag that’s sort-of four times the [size of the] Kelly that you could just leave open and sort of half the size of my suitcase?’” She continued: “He said: ‘well, draw it for me.’ And I think I drew it on the sick bag, a vomit bag in the aeroplane.” Eventually, Dumas turned Birkin’s wishes into a reality. Before she went to purchase the accessory she inspired, Dumas told her she could have one free of charge if he could name it after her. In a 2012 interview with Vogue, Birkin admitted the Hermès had paid her £30,000 for her annual royalty, but she opted to donate the money to her preferred charities. “I got Hermès to fork out for my charities once I saw the fortune they were making. A certain amount of money every year goes straight to my charity and it will continue to after my death,” she said while speaking to WWD in 2011. Hermès will continue to honour her legace by donating to Birkin’s preferred charities in the wake of her passing. Known to cost upwards of $10,000, the Birkin bag is a status symbol as much as an emblem of the relationship between designer goods and practicality. With a waitlist and limited supply of this delicately crafted leather accessory, an air of exclusivity is achieved amongst the fortuitous owners. Vintage models from previous collections are priced and sold anywhere between $30,000 and $500,000 depending on their year, according to Sothebys. These highly regarded handbags mesh conservative and mod fashion codes, celebrating the intersection between Birkin’s and Hermès’ styles. However, following a 2015 investigation into the brand by PETA, which revealed the treatment of crocodiles for their skin, Birkin requested that her name be removed from the bags that were made out of the animal. “Jane Birkin has expressed her concerns regarding practices for slaughtering crocodiles. Her comments do not in any way influence the friendship and confidence that we have shared for many years. Hermès respects and shares her emotions and was also shocked by the images recently broadcast,” the fashion house said at the time. Hermès respected her decision then, but she ended up dropping her request as she was satisfied with how the brand handled the situation, labelling it as an “isolated irregularity.” In a statement, the brand said: “Jane Birkin has advised us that she is satisfied by the measures taken by Hermès.” She was known for her transcendent performances both on set and stage as a movie star and singer, respectively. However, Birkin’s “French girl” aesthetic will have forever affected the fashion industry’s perception of timeless looks. Birkin was a trendsetter, but not in a cyclical way. She would don silk blouses with sheer tights, monochromatic pieces decorated with statement belts, and pendant necklaces. Birkin, who previously favoured large wicker baskets to hold her belongings instead of handbags, would wear a simple white T-shirt and vintage denim combination, taking the most effortless outfit making it elegant. Following the creation of the Birkin bag, she was also looked to as the perfect example for how the expensive bag was meant to be used, with Birkin photographed with her own overflowing Hermès handbag on a number of occasions. “I love the way she wears her bag... Carefree, nonchalant, unpretentious, so iconic,” one person tweeted, while another said: “A well-loved bag should show a little shamble.” Read More Jane Birkin death: ‘Je t’aime... moi non plus’ singer and actor dies aged 76 The most iconic Hermès Birkin bags inspired by Jane Birkin Jane Birkin: Singer, actor and inspiration behind iconic Birkin bag dies aged 76 The most iconic Hermès Birkin bags inspired by Jane Birkin Kim Kardashian’s Skims is now worth $4bn TikTokers are showing off pink outfits they’re going to wear to watch Barbie movie

A mother on TikTok has sparked an online debate after she pierced her newborn daughter’s ears one day after giving birth. The woman, who goes by the username @laraticaofficial on the app, originally shared the recently resurfaced clip of her daughter Lara last year. In the 15-second video, baby Lara is seen wearing a set of floral stud earrings in the hospital, just one day after her birth. The child’s mother then showed current footage of her daughter, who was then-four months old, wearing a pair of silver hooped earrings. “The time past [sic] too fast. Missing you being this small,” she captioned the TikTok. The viral video prompted many people to express concern over how early the mother had pierced her daughter’s ears. “Bro was still in the damn hospital bed but had earrings on,” commented one user. “How did she get her ears pierced that young,” a second person wrote. One TikToker said: “How is that ear piercing even legal?” @laraticaofficial 𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚙𝚊𝚜𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚘 𝚏𝚊𝚜𝚝 🥺𝙼𝚒𝚜𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚋𝚎𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚜𝚖𝚊𝚕𝚕 #foryou ♬ In The Stars - Benson Boone However, several users defended the mother against her critics, citing that it is common in certain cultures and traditions to pierce an infant’s ears. “In our culture/family, we also have ears pierced as soon as they are born,” one person shared. “My mum pieced my ears the day after I was born also! It’s great,” another user wrote. “Y’all need to chill. The damn earrings won’t kill the baby. Sheesh!” said someone else. While one TikToker wrote that it’s the mother’s decision to “decide what happens” to their child, another person said they’re “glad” they weren’t “forced to get my ears pierced as a baby” because it “should be the choice of the child”. In an interview with Newsweek, the mother — who lives in Colombia — said that piercing her daughter’s ears after birth is less painful or “non-traumatic” than it would be for a toddler. When asked why she pierced Lara’s ears while she was still in the hospital, the unnamed mother replied: “Because I wanted to, and that it is possible in our country.” She added: “I think a few days after birth is much more non-traumatic for a child to pierce their ears than when they are one or two. Lara had no reaction when the doctors gave her the holes.” For years, piercing a baby’s ears has often been debated by parents and non-parents alike. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, ear piercing may be done at any age as long as it is performed carefully. Although, they do recommend to postpone the piercing until a child is mature enough to care for the pierced site themselves. In many cultures, ear piercing is considered a right of passage - a tradition passed down from generation to generation. And some decide to pierce their child’s ears simply because it looks nice. Read More ‘Call me a child abuser again’: Hilary Duff anticipates backlash to piercing daughter’s ears Mother accused of ‘child abuse’ after baby ear piercing video goes viral Khloe Kardashian faces criticism for piercing two-month-old daughter's ears Schoolboy almost dies from swallowing magnets for TikTok challenge Woman shares honest review of New York City apartment TikTok mom slammed after making 5-year-old son run in 104 degree heat

In the coming decades, five princesses are expected to ascend the thrones of Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, and Sweden.

Maria Menounos and husband Keven Undergaro have welcomed their first baby via surrogate after a decade of fertility issues and Menounos’ battle with pancreatic cancer. On Wednesday (19 July), the 45-year-old journalist revealed to Us Weekly the name of their baby girl: Athena Alexandra. Their bundle of joy was born on 23 June in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, via surrogate. “It was the most special moment of my life,” Menounos recalled to the outlet. “The doctor literally grabbed her and hiked her onto me. I sat with her on my chest, and Keven and I kept looking at each other like, ‘Oh, my God.’ It was just pure joy.” “It was like Christmas morning times a million,” she said. Menounos announced she and her husband Undergaro, 55, were expecting their first child together in February. But just one month prior, she learned she had a 3.9cm mass on her pancreas, later confirmed to be a stage 2 neuroendocrine tumour. “Athena is our miracle baby,” Menounos said. “I’m so grateful for her.” Speaking to Us Weekly, the former E! News correspondent opened up about her 10-year-long fertility journey, and revealed the surprising celebrity who helped her find a surrogate. Menounos previously did three rounds of in-vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatments before she opted to have a baby via surrogate. It wasn’t until her first surrogate fell through that her lawyer, Andrew Vorzimer – who Kim Kardashian had connected her to – put her in touch with a surrogate search service. “I give her so much credit,” Menounos said about Kim Kardashian. “She helped us get started and guided me through the fears and the process. She was the first to know we were pregnant! We were at a gala, and I couldn’t resist telling her. She’s such a chill, calm person. Anytime I had questions or needed advice, her responses were instant. I had really leaned on her a lot.” After her pancreatic cancer diagnosis, the TV presenter underwent surgery to remove the tumour on her pancreas, along with parts of her spleen, a fibroid, and 17 lymph nodes. Now, Menounos revealed that she feels “amazing” after surgery, which left her with a C-section scar, despite not delivering a baby on her own. “I’ve had a lot of low moments, so I’ve had a lot of practice in overcoming them,” she said, when asked how she managed to stay positive battling cancer while preparing for her baby girl. “You have to come out of the victim mentality.” “Everyone asks, ‘Why me?’ And my thing is, ‘Why not me?’ That helps me get out of things faster,” she continued. “I just beat this tumour because I found it early, and other people don’t, so I’m lucky. I try to focus on how I want to feel rather than the other stuff. It takes a minute; it’s not easy.” Not only has Maria Menounos battled – and survived – pancreatic cancer, but she previously underwent surgery to remove a brain tumour in 2017. That same year, she and her husband tied the knot after nearly 20 years of dating. Read More Maria Menounos says her tumour ‘doubled in size’ after doctors overlooked first symptoms of cancer Maria Menounos reveals pancreatic cancer symptoms that doctors dismissed Maria Menounos reveals she underwent surgery for pancreatic cancer while expecting baby girl Maria Menounos says her tumour ‘doubled’ after first cancer symptoms were overlooked Mother sparks debate over parent who wouldn’t give daughter cake Gemma Atkinson announces birth of second baby in heartwarming Instagram post

Kim Kardashian’s shapewear company Skims is now worth US$4bn (approximately £3.09bn) after a new funding round raised US$270m (£209m). This makes Skims a unicorn company four times over. A unicorn company refers to startup companies with a value of more than $1bn. The company, co-owned by Kardashian, 42, and her business partner Jens Grede, plans to announce its new valuation today (Wednesday 19 July), according to the New York Times. Its previous valuation given by investors was $3.2bn. The reality TV star, best known for starring in 20 seasons of Keeping Up With The Kardashians and The Kardashians, said in an interview: “It has grown quickly and we’re so proud of that. We’ve had a really good flow of product launches.” Kardashian launched Skims in 2019 as she wanted to create shapewear that fits her own skin tone and body type. The brand has since released numerous ranges, including loungewear, maternity wear and swimwear. In 2021, the success of the brand increased Kardashian’s net worth to US$1bn, which earned her a spot on Forbes’ World Billionaires List. Last year, when Skims hit its US$3.2bn valuation, it was estimated that Kardashian became US$600m richer. The company secured US$240m in a funding round led by hedge fund Lone Pine Capital, as well as previous investors. Grede, who is Skims’s chief executive, said in an interview that the company was now profitable and on track for US$750 million in sales this year, up from US$500 million in 2022. Grede said nearly 70 per cent of the company’s overall customers are millennials or Gen Zs, while about 15 per cent of the company’s online customers come from outside of the US. Over the last year, he said that 11 million people have joined waiting lists to buy the brand’s most popular items, which regularly sell out. Skims’ bestseller products include its viral “seamless sculpt bodysuit”, which comes with extra compression at the core and waist areas to create a “figure-enhancing” look. The product description says the bodysuit will “flatter your bust, and rounded butt pockets for a lifted look”. Another bestseller is the “soft lounge long slip dress”, a basic maxi slip dress with a body-hugging fit. For a recent collection launched by the brand, British singer-songwriters Raye and PinkPantheress were enlisted to promote it, along with Bronx rapper Ice Spice. The Kardashian family are also responsible for a myriad of viral beauty and fashion companies. Kim also owns a skincare brand named SKKN BY KIM, which sells a nine-product step-by-step routine for “radiant skin”. Kim’s half-sister, Kylie Kenner, is the founder of beauty brand Kylie Cosmetics, which sells makeup and skincare products. Meanwhile, Khloe Kardashian is the co-founder of Good American, a self-claimed “fully inclusive fashion brand” and Kendall Jenner owns the alcohol brand 818 Tequila. Read More Between Brexit and Covid, London’s food scene has become a dog’s dinner – can it be saved? Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Woman claims Skims bodysuit ‘saved’ her life after she was shot four times TikTokers are showing off pink outfits they’re going to wear to watch Barbie movie Florence Pugh’s fans praise star for saving Emily Blunt from wardrobe malfunction

Chipotle’s ‘Autocado’ takes the drudgery out of making guacamole.

Gemma Atkinson has given birth to her second child with Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Gorka Marquez. The former Emmerdale actor, 38, announced on Instagram that she and her fiancé had welcomed a baby son, whom she called “utterly wonderful”. Writing on her Instagram Stories on Wednesday morning (19 July), Atkinson told her 1.8m followers: “Little man is here! He arrived safe and sound and he’s utterly wonderful. “We’re all home together soaking up this lovely little bubble before Gorks has to leave for Strictly rehearsals next week.” She added: “Thank you for all the lovely well wishes. Our family is complete.” Her partner Marquez shared the same message on his own Instagram page. The couple, who already share a three-year-old daughter, Mia, met when Atkinson appeared on Strictly Come Dancing as a celebrity contestant in 2017. Though they were not coupled up on the dancefloor, the pair started dating after the show wrapped. When Atkinson gave birth to their first child, Mia, in 2019, she needed an emergency c-section and suffered a haemorrhage after the birth, losing nearly a litre of blood. Following the experience she said she was initially “adamant” that she and Marquez would not want another child. “All these things were going through my mind, what did I do that caused all that to happen? I was telling myself for weeks and weeks I’d failed at childbirth,” the actor told Channel 4’s Steph’s Packed Lunch last year. “I was having horrible dreams that someone was going to take Mia from me. I remember my mum running into my bedroom and I was sat up screaming, sweating.” Atkinson added that a woman approached her and her mum when she was out with Mia one day and said: “Oh I believe it [the birth] wasn’t a success was it, you know, what happened?” Atkinson’s mother replied: “It was a huge success, Mia’s there, Gemma’s here, total success.” “Something clicked in me then,” Atkinson said of the exchange. “My body had done me proud because it had recovered and got me through. “I’m at the stage where I want a sister or brother for Mia. The first few months of Mia’s life, I kept saying to my partner, Gorka, ‘I’m not going through that again’. I’ve now come out of it and I feel I could.” According to the Birth Trauma Association (BTA), around 30,000 women per year experience birth trauma in the UK. The radio presenter said at the time that she met with a psychotherapist to learn more about birth trauma and how women can be helped through it. “It was strangely comforting speaking to the women, it makes you feel like you’re not on your own, you’re not the only person who had a difficult labour,” Atkinson added. Read More Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Groom sparks backlash over wedding prank he pulled on his bride: ‘Huge red flag’ Nearly half of women feel ‘too unfit’ to enjoy exercise this summer – how to overcome fitness fear Anorexic woman, 47, who wants to die may soon be able to under Canadian law Mindy Kaling shuts down weight loss question as ‘people take it so personally’

The president and CEO of Gucci is stepping down later this year

Mindy Kaling has declined to answer a question about her weight loss and “wellness journey” after losing a significant amount of weight in the last year. The Mindy Project star, 44, was asked in an interview with Allure Magazine about what she would say to fans who “feel like they’ve lost an ally” because of the change in her physical appearance. It comes after fans speculated that the actor and producer had used Ozempic, a diabetes drug that has been hailed by celebrities and influencers for its weight loss side effect. Kaling told the magazine that it isn’t “super exciting for me to talk about my body and how it’s analysed”. Declining to “get into it”, she added that talking about her weight loss tends to “take over the conversation unfortunately”, adding: “People take it so personally.” The mother-of-two has previously divulged some details about how she lost weight, but has not addressed speculation that she used any sort of medication to do so. The Independent has contacted a representative of Kaling for comment. In April 2022, she told Entertainment Tonight: “I eat what I like to eat. If I do any kind of restrictive diet, it never really works for me. I just eat less of it. “I wish there was something more juicy or dynamic about the way that I’ve lost a little bit of weight, but that’s the way I’ve done it.” Fans began taking notice of Kaling’s weight loss in December 2022, when she shared a photograph of herself wearing a white dress for a holiday party. She wrote in the caption: “I never wear winter white! I was always so worried about it not being flattering and also about dropping food on it.” Last August, Kaling recalled being labelled “unattractive” by the media while starring in The Mindy Project from 2012 to 2017. She opened up about the criticism, saying: “The amount of articles that were like, ‘It’s so good for a culture that this unattractive woman is finally on camera’. “I didn’t know I was so unattractive until I was the star of my own show. So not having to see those things, that’s wonderful.” Kaling has two children, Katherine and Spencer, who were born in 2017 and 2020 respectively. She keeps them out of the spotlight and has not publicly revealed who their father is. However, she reflected on them not growing up with a father figure in an interview with the Duchess of Sussex on the latter’s short-lived Spotify podcast, Archetypes. Kaling told Meghan Markle last year: “I would love for my… I have such a great relationship with my dad. You know, he is, we’re so different from each other. But he is just like, he is everything to me. “I do know that that would be so valuable for my kids, you know, that they have a dad. It wasn’t our lot, you know, our family’s lot in life. And I do think about it with wistfulness and then also fear, like, what will they think when they get older about that?” It was previously speculated that Kaling’s The Office co-star and long-time friend BJ Novak could be the father of her children. However, neither Kaling nor Novak have confirmed this. Addressing the rumours, Kaling said that they don’t “bother” her and said that Novak is “godparent to both my kids”. “It hasn’t affected my happiness at all, it hasn’t affected my kids or BJ. If that’s what is going to be titillating to people, I’ll take it.” Read More Between Brexit and Covid, London’s food scene has become a dog’s dinner – can it be saved? Cruise line apologises after passengers witness dozens of pilot whales being slaughtered Influencer Annabelle Ham dies at age 22: ‘A light to the world’ Cramming all workout into weekend is still effective, scientists say Anorexic woman, 47, who wants to die may soon be able to under Canadian law Coleen Nolan becomes fourth sister in her family to be diagnosed with cancer